Dhoni the captain comes a full circle

These are interesting times in MS Dhoni's career as captain of the Indian Test team. He has 20 Test victories to his name, and an addition of one more win will put him on par with Sourav Ganguly as India's most successful Test skipper. But, what should be a monumental landmark to be celebrated has almost been forgotten thanks to the team's poor record in recent times. It seemed impossible to question Dhoni's leadership after the World Cup victory in April last year, but the season that followed has completely turned the tables and led to questions over Dhoni's future as captain, and player in Test cricket.

Dhoni's career as captain of the Indian Test side can be divided into two halves - pre and post 2011. While the lows of the 2011 season are, quite rightly, being used to criticise him, it's also important to recognize his contributions that took India to the pinnacle of Test cricket prior to last season. It's not without reason that stalwarts like Rahul Dravid still back Dhoni to take India forward in these tough times of transition.

Dhoni's successes are often brushed aside as 'luck' or a mere factor of his team's strength, but a closer look will reveal that his role was tremendous; while most of India's Test victories were set up by the strong batting line up, it was the bowlers who ultimately delivered the wins and that is where Dhoni's leadership comes into play. It becomes even more commendable considering the resources he had to work with in the period between 2008 and 2011; India's biggest match-winner - Anil Kumble - had retired, Harbhajan Singh was on a decline, Ishant Sharma was just making his mark in the international arena and Zaheer Khan was the only world class bowler India had. With practically no top class spinner in the side, 20 wickets per Test match in India seemed a far distance away, but Dhoni took the unconventional route and scripted many a Test win at home using his pacers - Ishant and Zaheer. Victories were not confined to the Indian sub-continent as well; India won Tests in New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka and South Africa under Dhoni.

But post 2011, the very aspects of his captaincy that took him to the top - extracting the best from his players, tactical abilities and man-management skills - went missing. Dhoni was never too popular as a tactical genius but he was street-smart in approach; for example, he choked Australia successfully in the 2008 Test series by setting an 8-1 off side field and asked his bowlers to bowl outside the off stump line repeatedly, successfully testing Australia's patience.

Unfortunately now, such innovative tactics and fields are nowhere to be seen and Dhoni has gradually become a defensive captain who is rigid and predictable in approach. He has generally given the impression of being a tired and jaded man on the field waiting for things to happen, especially when there is a partnership by the opposing batsmen. The change in Dhoni the captain is comparable to and as blatant as that in Dhoni the batsman - from a bold, aggressive dasher in his early days to a watchful, defensive and passive person in recent times. Even his man-management skills, which were hailed when India was on top, have come under question following reports of rifts within the team in recent times. Dhoni's batting has not done anything to quell the doubters as well; while his presence in the middle in One Day International cricket sends signals of assurance and calmness to his team and its fans, the same cannot be said about Dhoni in Tests.

So where does the Indian skipper go from here? Dhoni, much like the Indian selectors, finds himself caught in the dilemma whether to plan for tours abroad, which start from South Africa in December 2013, or focus on the home series for now. With India scheduled to play all its Tests in familiar sub-continental conditions in the next year, it is a tough call for the selectors and Dhoni to decide on his future. The contrast between Dhoni's leadership at home and abroad is enormous and can be compared to Dhoni's batting across various conditions; while he is close to a walking wicket outside the sub-continent, he looks a lot more assured and comfortable at home. The lack of replacements in the Indian set-up has also helped his cause and may give him more time to work with; there are more reliable wicket-keeper batsmen like Dinesh Karthik or Wridhiman Saha in the domestic circuit, but there is no obvious choice to replace Dhoni the captain. Sehwag and Gambhir are battling to prove their worth in the side, Kohli is inexperienced and Zaheer forever carries doubts over his fitness. It will require a very brave decision from the selectors to find a new Test captain for India from this lot.

The current situation for MS Dhoni is much tougher than any other he has faced in his career so far. The batting line up is undergoing its biggest ever transition, the spinners are inexperienced, Harbhajan and Ishant have gone down rapidly, and Zaheer Khan is unable to carry the bowling on his shoulders. The public reactions after the loss to England at Mumbai gave a glimpse of what can happen if things go wrong and reiterated that victories at home, even with a side under transition, are never considered an achievement. They are an obligation. Dhoni survived the disastrous tours of England and Australia last season, but with the current England series level at 1-1, he will know that he cannot afford a loss at home. Life has come a full circle for Dhoni - the next two Tests may well tell us if the circle will end, or start again.